(Closed) MY BIG FAT CHEAPO WEDDING!! WHAT'S YOUR BEST DEAL SO FAR?

Given the fact that this is wedding #2 for the both of us (we’re both 41) AND our parents both spent $20k & $40k respectively on our first magical affairs, we have decided to do our wedding IN NEW YORK CITY for less than $5,000. Believe it or not, I think we can do it. Some crazy ideas here, but what the heck. TELL ME YOUR BEST STEALS & DEALS SO FAR! For example, my best deal was finding a brand new (with tags) Maggie Sottero dress at an Upper East Side thrift shop for $300.

Now, here’s the catch… My future husband and I are both well-paid executives so our wedding can’t LOOK CHEAP or artsy or earthy (I sooo wish I could pull off a picnic reception, but my 75 year old mother would faint). But with alimony, child support and loads of post-divorce debt, we have no business throwing a big fat second wedding.

So here’s my cheapo budget for doing a NICE ceremony in Central Park and a FANCY Dinner afterwards. No bridesmaids. No groomsmen. Just bride, groom and 20 guests:

– CENTRAL PARK PERMIT ($25)

– INVITATIONS & POSTAGE ($200)

– PAWN SHOP WEDDING BANDS ($1,000)

– WEDDING DRESS, UNDERGARMENTS & ALTERATIONS ($500)

– WEDDING OFFICIANT ($350)

– PHOTOGRAPHER ($350)

– FLOWERS ($200)

– WEDDING CAKE FOR DINNER ($150)

– VIOLINIST FOR CEREMONY ($200)

– WEDDING LICENSE & FILING FEE ($125)

– LIMO / TRANSPORTATION (CEREMONY, DINNER & EVENING OUT – $500)

– GROOM’S TUXEDO (BUY $350 OR RENT $100)

– WEDDING DINNER & DRINKS FOR 20 ($2,000)

– WEDDING AFTER PARTY (CLUB HOPPING IN LIMO FOR YOUNG FAMILY & FRIENDS ONLY)

Dress – you do not have to have that $2000 dress. you do not. a $500 dress will still be beautiful. you do not have to have a $400 sash or a $400 veil or $400 shoes. aim for below $100, they do exist. Don’t let those salespeople pressure you, keep looking.

Photographer – barter, bargain, shop around. There are decent photographers available that charge decent rates. Even $5000+ per day photogs can F up your photos. $500 photogs can do a great job. You truly do not need 1000 photos of a few hours. 100 beautiful photos is more than enough.

favours – they are nice but not nearly as important as we’d like to believe. Anything over $2pp is probably not worth it.

Alcohol – big budget item and likely to blow out even the most frugal brides wedding budget. A personal choice but always a good idea to limit your bar, or better still, BYO

Engagement photos – why are these necessary?

honeymoon – you will want a break after all that planning, but who says it has to be in a different country?

love you work OP, you’ve done a fantastic job 🙂

our best deal was spending $120 on 5 cakes for a cake display table, rather than $750 on something tiered. We were more than happy with 5 flavours to choose from 🙂 we just stuck a topper on one (a grand mariner infused vanilla sponge), that was our wedding cake for cutting

I am stunned!! Amazing work. Enjoy!! I’d tell you to opt of of the transportation because I looove yellow cab pics but if you want to give your wedding a fancy flair, that’s a good way to do it for sure.

Just to show you – we spent very little, so I totally think you can do it on the cheap but still have it nice! Definitely DIY your flowers if you can. There are so many brides out there that have really beautiful weddings on a budget!

I DIY’d my invitations (and got tons of compliments, I might add) for around $50 for 30 guests. I understand if you may be limited on time.

Flowers you can totally get great ideas on here, youtube, and blogs. Making a bouquet is easy and all you need is some ribbon, pins, floral tape, and some flowers from a grocery store or market. You can do this for less than $100 easy.

Do you have to have a violinist? Is there a friend who can play the guitar? That is just as intimate and romantic in my opinion.

Officiant…. $350?! I would shop around.

ETA: I think you have some AWESOME ideas, and these are just my opinions. 🙂

My absolute best score was my cake – $137 for a three tier cake. But, it’s an old school style, so that won’t fit most brides today.

Other than that, my dress was $550, down from $800 because I bought the sample right before it was discontinued. Officiant was $150, but we want to gift him more this year. Reception location was $200, and food was $1000 for 85 ppl.

Grocery store for flowers, much cheaper and diy coursages and boutineers (although they can’t gaurantee colors and types, but I’m ok with that) there are tons of youtubes out there showing how to make these.

We may nix the limo and do the hotel shuttle for up to 20 people which is $10 each way. I have heard of limo competition out there, so shop around for sure!

Found my dress on recycled bride, $325 with shipping (brand new tags still attached, she just changed her mind-score!) slip was used (but still in excellent condition) on craigslist for $30

Rings are from our local jeweler, Shane, but used Mia Diamond alternative (man made) for stones. Found his titanium ring at walmart $50 (versus the same brand and style at the jewelry shop for over $100).

Diy template for save the dates and invites, and had Vista print make them as postcards for both (postcard shipping for std’s lowers costs too). Paid $3.00 for cards and shipping for ea order, from an email special from vista print. Will use the post cards for the top page of the invites and then layer with different colors/ layers of cardstock from walmart ($3.50) and then attach a ribbon ourselves.

Booked venue on a Fri (cut bill in half) also doing a custom menu-bbq to help keep costs down. Venue procides dinnerware, tables, linens and some decor, saved a lot here, by signing up for specials via email and booking early.

Made a deal w/our photographer, asked for a custom pkg for 5-6 hrs with a retouched disc, got a few bids for $600.

Dj-friend of ours, but do some shopping, some will compete or use ipod.

Skipping favors, no one likes those anyways, if anything, it’ll be a little shooter or something, since we aren’t providing hard liquor.

Providing 2 kegs and cash bar (lots saved here). It’s becoming more acceptable to forego the drinks and provide a cash bar, or limited bar with only a few options or signature drink only etc.

Booked downtown hotel for the day /night of with early booking special and spoke with sales desk and coordinator who gave our guests discounts and free breakfast, this took some digging, I called and emailed and finally was directed to the correct person, as the first 3 did not want to do a deal for some reason, so be persistant.

Honeymoon: Mexico 4 star all inclusive for under $2500 for 6nights! whoo hooo! We love this resort too (check varying dates of departure and arrival for best rates).

– Friday wedding – venue minimum cut in half– Ceremony at local park’s amphitheatre (so it has seating and a “stage” area) – $140 for three hours– No favors– Cupcakes being made by my cousin– Found an amazing photographer who does beautiful work, but has only been in business a couple of years (she has a degree in photography and worked in a photo lab in college) – $1300 for 8 hours, e-session, all photos (edited) on a DVD with print rights, two shooters, etc.– DIY save the dates, invites, etc., designed myself and printed through Vistaprint with a Groupon $? not sure how much total yet– Wholesale flowers, arranged by a florist friend of FMIL’s – $? not sure yet – Dress – $700 (although I didn’t pay for it), plus then I got my shoes for $25 (which I DIYed over)– Borrowing or making my jewelry– FI’s tux is free because he has 5 GMs; GMs get a discount because I bought my dress at the same place– Honeymoon flight is free, thanks to a family friend who’s giving us his frequent flyer miles

Wow, I am impressed with what you’re able to do with your budget. My budget is also $5000 (was $5000… might be a little over). I saved on so many things and the thing pushing us over is the honeymoon, which is the 1 area we’re really splurging on.

Photographer for full coverage: $220

Florist: less than $300 9and thisn includes ALL florals).

Venue: $3 p/p to rent the space

Ceremony: $112 for 2 hours of actual ceremont and cocktail hour time (price includes set up and gest arrival time).